DOVER -- Wanted: 100 volunteers who will advocate in court for the interests of abused or neglected children.

Qualifications: Desire to help others for rewards other than money, assertive personality, available time and a big heart.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates program, known as CASA, is facing a daunting caseload in New Hampshire and needs more volunteers. This is especially true in Strafford County where Family Courts in Dover and Rochester are some of the busiest in the state.

It’s one of the most rewarding things many CASA volunteers say they ever have done. Also one of the most challenging.

Suzanne Verrill has been a CASA for four years. In her paying job she is office manager at a Rochester church, and has a background as an accountant and former deputy sheriff.

Since signing up to be an advocate for children in court Verrill has had five cases involving as many children. Two are active now.

As the court-appointed Guardian ad Litem, meaning “guardian of the case,” she appears at every court hearing involving her kids’ cases and weighs in with what she thinks is in their best interests. More often than not the cases involve troubled families where the state has removed kids from their homes or is considering doing so. Many stem from substance abuse issues.

In court the parents are represented. The state is represented. And the children are represented by a court-appointed advocate, which is where CASA gets involved if they have enough available volunteers. Otherwise, the court has to appoint a paid advocate, such as an attorney.

CASA organizations are private, non-profits and operate in almost every state.

“I’m the child’s voice in court,” explains Verrill, who has two grown sons of her own.

“It’s very worthwhile, you get to have a different view of life and are often the only consistent person in their life.” The kids represented by CASA may go through a succession of parents and foster homes. Verrill recounts visiting one of her kids in their new foster home.

“‘You found me, you found me’,” she remembers him exclaiming. “He knew I was there for him.”

Bob Scott lives in Hollis and has been a CASA for three years.

The self-employed home builder estimates he spends about 20 hours a month advocating for his cases. A lot of the time is spent talking to parents, other family members, teachers and anyone else who can help him understand the child’s situation.

He files a report with the court and is asked by the judge to recommend what action he feels is in the child’s best interests.

“You are a full party to the case,” said Scott, and as such have full access to all relevant information.

“It has tremendous rewards, you’re really helping children at a critical point in their lives.”

The goal of the court system is to find permanent homes for abused or neglected children. Ideally this would be with biological family members, but that is not always possible, said Jenny Sheehan, supervisor in CASA’s Dover office, one of six offices in the state.

Sheehan has 45-50 volunteers and could use 20-30 more. There never are enough to cover all the cases requested by the Division of Children, Youth and Families, or DCYF.

Statewide, CASA is down by about 100 volunteers from a full complement and handles about 600 cases on average in New Hampshire.

“The cases are just coming in like crazy now,” said Marcia Sink, CASA-NH’s CEO. She said the need is especially acute in Rockingham and Carroll counties.

Potential volunteers go through 40 hours of training after an extensive screening process. CASAs come from all walks of life. There are teachers, airline pilots, personal trainers, insurance agents, retired military.

At the Dover office, Sheehan said she’s looking for advocates who are sensitive to families, in tune with children, and respectful of the process and the court. “They should be empathetic and willing to step up and verbalize for a kid in a court hearing,” said Sheehan.

Training sessions are ongoing all year. A new training session for CASA volunteers in the Dover area is starting next month. For information go to www.casanh.org or call 603-626-4600.